THE GAMES: The University of Minnesota-Duluth has earned its first ever spot in the NCAA Division II Central Region Baseball Tournament to be played Thursday, May 15, through Saturday, May 17, at James R. Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, MO.
The fourth-seeded Bulldogs will play top seed and host Central Missouri State University on May 15 at 7 p.m. Northwest Missouri State University and Rockhurst (MO) University will play the other first-round game at 1 p.m. Here is the complete schedule of the double-elimination tournament:
Thursday, May 15
Game 1 -- Rockhurst (29-15) vs. Northwest Missouri State (35-15), 1 p.m.
Game 2 -- Minnesota-Duluth (36-11) vs. Central Missouri State (44-7), 7 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Game 3 -- Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2, 11 a.m.
Game 4 -- Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2, 3 p.m.
Game 5 -- Winner of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Game 6 -- Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5, 1 p.m.
Game 7 -- If Necessary (30 min. after Game #6)
THE COACH: Scott Hanna, who played on UMD's first two intercollegiate baseball teams (1972-73) is in his 25th season as the Bulldogs' head coach. The 2003 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year, Hanna is now 495-316 (.610) with UMD. He has led the Bulldogs to all three of their NSIC crowns (1992, 1993 and 1999) and the top regular season NSIC record this season.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: A record setting season continues for the Bulldogs, who have set 10 single-season school marks including wins (36), hits (473), runs (385) and home runs (55). UMD finished first in the NSIC regular season standings at 15-3. The Bulldogs hosted the NSIC Tournament last weekend coming away with a third place finish. Senior pitcher Brandon Broxey (Brooklyn Park, MN) and freshman catcher Mike Hanson (Bloomington, MN) were named to the All-NSIC Tournament team. Broxey allowed just one unearned run in a complete-game win over Southwest State while hitting .417 in three games. Hanson, who was a substitute for injured starter Nate Cermak, hit .444 in three games with a pair of RBI.
BATTAGLIA HEADS NSIC HONORS: Junior Tim Battaglia (Cloquet, MN) was named the 2003 NSIC Player of the Year, leading the league with a .517 average and 41 RBI. Joining Battaglia on the All-NSIC first team was catcher Nate Cermak, sophomore first baseman Joe Korneta (La Crosse, WI), freshman outfielder Greg Aker (Superior, WI) and pitcher Brandon Broxey. Senior second baseman Corey Koidahl (Minneapolis, MN) and freshman pitcher Luke Hagman (Ham Lake, MN) received honorable mention.
ABOUT THE MULES: For the sixth straight year, Central Missouri State is the host of the NCAA II Central Regional. The Mules, 44-7 overall, won both the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles. CMSU is ranked third in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 25 poll released May 12. The Mules are led by junior third baseman Zach Norman, the 2003 MIAA Player of the Year, who hit .391 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI.
ABOUT THE HAWKS: Rockhurst, an NCAA II Independent, is the second seed for the tournament. The Hawks, 29-15 overall, went 7-1 against NSIC teams this season, including a recent 16-6 win over league co-champion Wayne State (NE) College on April 28. RU’s lone loss against the NSIC came at the hands of Winona State University (6-2) on March 22.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Northwest Missouri State, 35-15 overall, was the MIAA regular season runner up and placed third in the MIAA Tournament. Senior third baseman John Sipes leads the Bearcats’ attack hitting .340 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI.
BULLDOG BITS: The Bulldogs are 26-5 in their last 31 games ... Tim Battaglia, who hit safely in a school-record 22 games earlier this season, has also set team season marks for hits (68), home runs (15) total bases (127) and RBI (64) ... Greg Aker needs three runs to break UMD’s single-season record of 61 held by Mike Petrich (1990). In NCAA II statisics through games of May 4, Tim Battaglia was fifth in hitting (.481) and home runs (0.36 hrpgninth in RBI (1.5 RBIpg) … As a team in the national statistics, UMD ranked seventh in ERA (3.00) and 15th in scoring (8.4 rpg) ... UMD had four of the top 10 hitters during NSIC games this spring. Tim Battaglia led league at .517, Joe Korneta was fourth (.452), Greg Aker was fifth (.448) and Brandon Broxey was 10th (.417). Greg Aker led the league in runs scored with 33. Tim Battaglia led in RBI with 41.
